Walker Welfare to be pulled down within weeks

DEMOLITION ORDER The Walker Welfare Centre could be gone within weeks.

Published:16:43Friday 02 August 2013

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The Walker Welfare Centre will be demolished within weeks, Kirklees Council has confirmed.

A formal notice has been posted on the community centre in Edge Lane, which surveyors deem to be unsafe and beyond economic repair.

The decision has provoked outrage among residents, who say Thornhill’s heritage is being destroyed.

A last minute attempt to get the building listed was rejected by English Heritage earlier this week.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “Demolition is expected to take place in around 28 days time once an order has been granted, although could be carried out sooner under emergency powers if the building deteriorates any further, or the existing security of the site is breached.”

Joanne Bartholomew, Assistant Director for Physical Resources, said: “We understand that some local people are unhappy about this recent development and that they believe the building has special charitable status which would give protection from moves to demolish it.

“While we are happy to work with those parties to try and resolve the confusion and clarify the future of the site, our priority in this instance must be the safety of the general public. It is clear from the surveyor’s report that the building is beyond economic repair, and now dangerous.

“Regardless of the long-term future of the site which we are happy to discuss, in relation to this building, not only is demolition the most reasonable course of action but also the safest.”